Means for attaching a pull-tab to a can end

ABSTRACT

In an easy-open can, a structure is provided which eliminates the conventional tab-holding rivet. The can end proper is provided with at least one pair of integral raised abutments having mutually opposed parallel vertical walls normally to the axis of the tab, and the tab is provided with at least one curled portion normal to its axis and of a diameter to enter between said parallel vertical walls, which walls are then crimped over said curled portion to hold the tab to the can end. A reinforcing wire may be inserted in said curled portion to give it additional strength. The curled portion when firmly crimped into said abutments serves as a fulcrum for the tab when the latter is raised to perforate the can end and to tear open a panel which is defined by a scoreline. The invention applied equally to can ends provided with beverage type openings whether the tab be captive or not, and to cans wherein substantially the entire end panel is removed, and can be applied to a previously fabricated can end.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Elton G. Kaminski Sidney, Ohio [2]] Appl. No. 19,855 [22] Filed Mar. 16, I970 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee The Stolle Corporation Sidney, Ohio [54] MEANS FOR ATTACH INC A PULL-TAB TO A CAN END 9 Claims, l2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 220/54, 29/522, 29/509, l l3/l2l [5| Int. Cl. 865d 17/24 [50] Field of Search 220/54, 48, 27; 215/46; 113/120, 121; 29/509. 522

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,381,847 5/1968 Smyth 220/54 3,434,623 3/1969 Cookson 220/54 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Melville, Strasser, Foster &. Hoffman ABSTRACT: In an easy-open can, a structure is provided which eliminates the conventional tab-holding rivet. The can end proper is provided with at least one pair of integral raised abutments having mutually opposed parallel vertical walls normally to the axis of the tab, and the tab is provided with at least one curled portion normal to its axis and ofa diameter to enter between said parallel vertical walls, which walls are then crimped over said curled portion to hold the tab to the can end A reinforcing wire may be inserted in said curled portion to give it additional strength. The curled portion when firmly crimped into said abutments serves as a fulcrum for the tab when the latter is raised to perforate the can end and to tear open a panel which is defined by a scoreline. The invention applied equally to can ends provided with beverage type openings whether the tab be captive or not. and to cans wherein substantially the entire end panel is removed, and can he applied to a previously fabricated can end.

PATENTED DEE "(I971 SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR/S ELTON G. KAM/A/SK/ BY v AG%S Fig.4.

PATENTEDHEC nan 31525392 SHEEI 3 0F 3 INVENTOR/S EL-ro/v G KAMwsK/ Xnomev MEANS FOR ATTACI-IING PULL-TAB TO A CAN END BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In recent years, easy-open cans have come into wide use. For the most part, such cans have been beverage cans where the tab when pulled out provides a wedge-shaped pouring or drinking opening. The tab which breaks out the tear portion and by means of which the tearportion is torn out is usually secured to the can end within the scored outline by means of a rivet. This rivet has in some cases been a separate rivet and in other cases has been a rivet formed from thetmaterial of the can end.

When it is attempted to provide easy opening characteristics for a can end where it is necessary to remove a large panel constituting the major portion of the can end, tremendous loads are put on the rivet and various attempts have been made to alleviate the pressure on the rivet head so that the tab is not pulled off the rivet before the panel is removed from the can. The most common procedure has been to provide a scoreline immediately behind the rivet so that on initial lifting of the tab the scoreline behind the rivet fractures and permits the basic panel material to hinge and permits the tab to produce a fracture of the primary scoreline. Other expedients have involved lancing in such manner that the tab proper may hinge while the lance portion remains intact with the rivet head. Another expedient has been the placing of the rivet as close as possible to the scoreline so as to provide maximum mechanical advantage for rupture of the scoreline while minimizing stress on the rivet head.

According to the present invention, the conventional rivet is eliminated entirely and in its place the tab is provided with one or more cylindrical extensions which are crimped to abutments formed from the material of the can end, whereby the tab is held in place on the can end and which provides a fulcrum for the tab during the breaking out phase of the opening operation. The structure herein described may be applied to a can end which is completely fabricated except for tab attachment and scoring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of an easy-open can end according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diametric cross-sectional view taken through the axis of the tab.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged I fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1 prior to crimping.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the relationship of the parts after crimping.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modification.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but relate to the modification of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified can end and tab combination.

FIG. 9 is a diametric cross-sectional view thereof taken through the axis of the tab.

FIGS. 10 and ll are fragmentary cross-sectional views on the line 11-11 of FIG. 8 showing the abutments before and after crimping, respectively; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing a further modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, a can end is shown at 10. As is conventional, the can may have the rolled edge II. The tab which is of the ring pull type is indicated generally at 12. The ring portion 13 thereof overlies a depression 14 in the can end to permit the fingers to get under the ring 13 to lift it up. The end of the tab which is adjacent the edge of the can end has the usual sharp chisel edge 15 which is directly over the score line 16 which extends all the way around the can end adjacent its periphery. If it is desired to provide a beverage type opening, the score line l6a will be provided instead of the scoreline l6, and if the tab is to be captive, a scoreline as shown at 16b will be provided.

In place of the conventional rivet, the tab proper is provided with the curled cylindrical element 17. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, it is formed from the material of the tab which is cut out along the line 18 (FIG. 4) and then simply curled downwardly into a cylindrical form as most clearly seen in FIG. 4. If desired, a reinforcing wire 19 which substantially fills the interior of the cylindrical member 17 may be used to strengthen the fulcrum.

The can end proper is provided with the configuration best seen in FIG. 3 which involves the depressed portions 20 and the upstanding abutments 21 which have the mutually opposed parallel vertical walls 22. In assembly, the tab 12 is placed in position with the cylindrical fulcrum 17 between the opposed vertical walls 22 and the abutments 21 are then crimped over as seen in FIG. 4. In this way, the tab is securely fastened to the can end and the member 17 held in place by the abutments 21 serves as a fulcrum when the tab 13 is lifted to cause the chisel end 15 to make its initial rupture of the scoreline 16 or 16a. As soon as this has been accomplished, a further pull on the ring 13 will simply tear out the entire panel around the score line 16, or the beverage opening around the scoreline 16a, or alternatively 16b.

FIGS. 5 to 7 inclusive show a minor modification wherein the member 17, instead of being curled downwardly, is curled upwardly. This is indicated at 17a in FIGS. 5 and 7. In this case, it is necessary to depress a portion as at 20 in FIG. 3 but in all other respects the construction is identical and the manner of assembly is identical. Again, a reinforcing wire may be used as at 19a.

In FIGS. 8 to 11 inclusive, there is shown a modification wherein, instead of a single fulcrum formed by the curled member 17 axially centered on the tab, there are provided two outboard curled portions 23. These are formed in the same way as the member 17 referred to above and they are secured to the can end by the same abutment means which are crimped over as seen in FIGS. 10 and I1, except that in this embodiment there must be two pairs of abutments as at 24 in FIG. 8. These abutments must again have the parallel vertical walls 25 and the member 23 is again inserted between them, whereupon the abutments 24 are crimped over as seen in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 shows a minor modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 11 where the curled portion 23 is curled downwardly as at 23a instead of upwardly as shown in FIG. 11. This of course again involves the provision of the depressions 20a in the can end as was the case in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that the conventional rivet and its attendant problems have been completely eliminated and replaced by a rather extensive fulcrum structure which performs the function of the rivet without endangering the stripping of the rivet head. It will also be clear that the structure herein described may be applied to a can end which has been completely fabricated except for the tab attachment and scoring.

Various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and, therefore, no limitation other than specifically set forth in the claims is intended or should be implied.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a can end and tab combination, said can end having a portion defined by a scoreline for tearing open said portion by means of said tab; at least one pair of upstanding abutments formed from the material of said can end, said abutments providing mutually opposed, parallel, vertical walls, normal to the axis of said tab, said tab having at least one tubular portion normal to its axis formed from the material of said tab, and of a diameter to fit snugly between said parallel walls, said abutments being of a height greater than said diameter, and being crimped over said tubular portion to hold said tab to said can end, and to provide a fulcrum for said tab during the opening of said can end.

2. The structure of claim I, wherein a reinforcing wire is disposed in said tubular portion substantially filling the same.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein there are two tubular portions coaxially disposed and extending from opposite sides of said tab, and wherein there are two pairs of said abutments in the can end to cooperate with said two tubular portions.

4. The structure of claim 3. wherein a reinforcing wire is disposed in each of said tubular portions substantially filling them.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein a single continuous reinforcing wire is disposed in both said tubular portions, and extends across the tab between them.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein there is a single tubular portion, centered axially ofsaid tab, and wherein there is a single pair of said abutments in the can end to cooperate with said tubular portion.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein a reinforcing wire is disposed in said tubular portion substantially filling the same.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said tubular portion is formed downwardly from the plane of said tab, and said pair of abutments are formed from a depressed portion of said can end.

9. The structure of claim 1. wherein said tubular portion is formed upwardly from the plane of said tab. 

1. In a can end and tab combination, said can end having a portion defined by a scoreline for tearing open said portion by means of said tab; at least one pair of upstanding abutments formed from the material of said can end, said abutments providing mutually opposed, parallel, vertical walls, normal to the axis of said tab, said tab having at least one tubular portion normal to its axis formed from the material of said tab, and of a diameter to fit snugly between said parallel walls, said abutments being of a height greater than said diameter, and being crimped over said tubular portion to hold said tab to said can end, and to provide a fulcrum for said tab during the opening of said can end.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein a reinforcing wire is disposed in said tubular portion substantially filling the same.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein there are two tubular portions coaxially disposed and extending from opposite sides of said tab, and wherein there are two pairs of said abutments in the can end to cooperate with said two tubular portions.
 4. The structure of claim 3, wherein a reinforcing wire is disposed in each of said tubular portions substantially filling them.
 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein a single continuous reinforcing wire is disposed in both said tubular portions, and extends across the tab between them.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein there is a single tubular portion, centered axially of said tab, and wherein there is a single pair of said abutments in the can end to cooperate with said tubular portion.
 7. The structure of claim 6, wherein a reinforcing wire is disposed in said tubular portion substantially filling the same.
 8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said tubular portion is formed downwardly from the plane of said tab, and said pair of abutments are formed from a depressed portion of said can end.
 9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said tubular portion is formed upwardly from the plane of said tab. 